diff --git a/start.bat b/start.bat
index 08ccc57e..c6adb7b6 100644
--- a/start.bat
+++ b/start.bat
@@ -1,6 +1,20 @@
 @echo off
 REM This script sets the necessary environment variable and starts the React app
 
-echo Setting OpenSSL legacy provider and starting the app...
-set NODE_OPTIONS=--openssl-legacy-provider
-yarn start
\ No newline at end of file
+echo Setting OpenSSL legacy provider and increasing memory allocation...
+set "NODE_OPTIONS=--openssl-legacy-provider --max-old-space-size=4096"
+
+REM Run lessc directly using local node_modules
+call node_modules\.bin\lessc --js --clean-css="--s1 --advanced" src/styles/themes/main.less public/themes/main.css
+if errorlevel 1 goto error
+
+echo Theme built successfully, starting the app...
+call yarn run craco start
+if errorlevel 1 goto error
+goto end
+
+:error
+echo Failed with error #%errorlevel%.
+exit /b %errorlevel%
+
+:end
\ No newline at end of file